Hey, you Scripture-memory buffs! I pray that your verses are bearing fruit and that they’re right there on the tip of your tongue when you’re tempted to say something the polar opposite of God’s will. That’s one of many things I like about memory work. It’s seems out of place to use the same mouth that has been spouting Scripture to spout off a bunch of trash. That doesn’t mean we never do it but it does mean we’re likely to feel miserable over it and think twice the next time.
Two times in a row our SSMT has fallen on a Bible study day so I am forced to be much briefer than I’d like. My heart toward you is bigger than my words, particularly today. Tonight’s lesson is especially pressing because I’m further behind in preparation than I’d normally be if I hadn’t had a taping over the weekend and spent the end of last work-week getting ready for it. Yada yada yada. I am woman, hear me whine.
I bet some of you feel the same way I’ve felt over the last week: too much on your plate. Looking at all of it in one big heap on your desk or your calendar can be demoralizing. Thursday I had one of those days when you can hardly make it to your car after work without bursting into tears. On the way home I felt like God was telling me to humble myself and get the word out that I needed prayer and by the next day I felt a world better. (Some nights you just go to bed early out of love for the people who live with you.) A couple of other things have really helped me today. They seem elementary but, if so, why don’t we ever seem to learn them once and for all? Here’s what they are: Remembering to…
1) TAKE ONE THING AT A TIME! God’s grace really is sufficient and He really does meet all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. As much as we want to see all that manna heaped up in a mountain of provision a week in advance alongside those upcoming demands, His promise in Philippians 4:19 is to meet each one AT THE TIME WE NEED IT. Thank You, Lord. If we could learn to live in this present moment with this present provision, oh, man, life would be so much less stressful, wouldn’t it?
2) SAY NO. I have managed to get that most distasteful word for the people-pleasure out of my mouth two times today to people I really, really, really didn’t want to say no to. People I love a ton. People I want very much to please. But the fact is, I don’t have a single other yes in my pocket right now. Not one. For this moment, I am completely bereft of extra yeses. Anybody else? So it’s got to be no. Help us, Lord. We need so much help to say yes to no.
Anyway, that’s not what we’re doing on here today. We’re on here to spout off our Siesta Scripture Memory Team Verse 4!
I am continuing out of the Book of James. This round I’m going with James 3:17 –
Beth, Houston. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.” James 3:17 The NET Bible (Is that a mouthful or what??)
For any of you who could use some ideas, the alternative verse I’m selecting for today outside of James may as well be the one I mentioned a couple of paragraphs earlier. If you’ve never memorized this one, stick it toward the top of your list. It’s a staple in the mental pantry of the believer.
“And my God will supply your every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 The NET Bible
And from The Message:
You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, His generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.
And that is a promise, Sweet Thing. Eyes up. Chins up. Joy up.
And maybe…just maybe…say yes to no.
Just for fun, here are a couple of pictures from Valentine’s dinner last night. We didn’t have the Fitzpatricks with us because they had their own plans for their third anniversary. Can you believe it’s been that long? We missed them but had a ton of fun anyway. Here are two darling couples I got to stare at across the table. I love them each so much.
We are ecstatic to have Travis and Angela in town and the rest of the worship team lands today. They’ll lead us tonight at Bible study. Wooooohooooooo!
Are they darling or what? For any of you newcomers, that’s Amanda, my firstborn, and Curtis, her wonderful man.
This picture didn’t come out well because the lighting was so bright so I did it in black and white and it looked even goofier but, anyway, at least you know I really did go with them to dinner.
And, in case I haven’t yet bored you to utter oblivion, here is one more that Trav took with his phone:
OK, that’s it! If you’re missing my Valentine, he had to be out of town for a work thing but I will see him soon and got beautiful roses and funny text messages all day.
Let’s hear each of your fourth verses, Siestas! Name, city, verse and translations please!
I love you guys.
Norma Bowers, Dallas, NC
“I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left – feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.”
John 14:27 (The Message)
Lisa, Siloam Springs, AR
They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. Psalm 112:7 (NLT)
Katy
Grapevine, TX
We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
Colossians 1:28 NASB
Lindsay, Lee’s Summit, MO
“Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.” Romans 1:5 New Living Translation
Amber, Plainfield, IL
Galations5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
NIV
Alison Norman, OK
I will keep my promises to the Lord in the presence of all His people. Psalm 116:14 NLT
Carol – LaGrange, Ga – Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Eph 6:13 NIV
Shonda Aurora, SD
Philippians 3:9
and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
Kendall from San Antonio:
“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”
Luke 11:28 NKJ
Wendy, Albuquerque, NM
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV
Heidi, Stirling ON – And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
Nance, Copperas Cove
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:1-5, NIV
Janae, Burnsville, MN
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
He has also set eternity in the hearts of men;
yet they cannot fathom that God has done from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV
Dana, Siloam Springs, AR: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
Holly, Longview, TX
“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave Him great pleasure.”
Ephesians 1:5-6 NLT
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19 NIV
May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love, and may you be able to feel and understand,as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep and how high His love really is, and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully understand it. and so at last you will be filled up with God Himself. Ephesians 3:181-19
Carolina Beach, NC-
“Who can know what the Lord is thinking?
Who can give him counsel?
But we can understand these things,
For we have the MIND OF CHRIST.”
1 Corinthians 2:16 (NLT)
Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. – Psalm 54:4
Donna, Jacksonville, “Jeremiah 33:3…NIV
“Call to me, and I will answer you, and tell
you great and unsearchable things you do not know”
Marcy, Elizabethtown, Ky: “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galations 1:10 NIV
Sharron Kay, Possum Kingdom Lake, TX
“And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
Misty, Smithville, MS – Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everylasting. – Psalm 139: 23-24 NIV
Aletta- Indianapolis- Psalm 141:3 (NIV) Set a guard over my mouth, O’LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds.
Dianne, Fruitland Park, FL “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.” James 3:17 (NET)
Heidi, Longview, Tx
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me. Psalm 139:23-24
Amy W., Columbia, SC – “And my God will supply your every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 The NET Bible
Amy, Princeton TX
The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. Isaiah 32:17 NIV
Becky, Springfield
Ephesians 5:22 (The Message)
Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ.
He Has removed my rebellious acts as far away from me as the east is from the west
Psalm 103:12
Carrie Jones
Ontario, Canada
Kristin, Covington, KY. — Philippians 4:5-7, ESV.
“Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Marie, Campton, KY
“Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” ~ Revelation 1:3 (NIV)
Starting Here & Now, There & Then
Marti, Loganville
“And my God will supply your every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19 The NET Bible
Psalm 16:11 (NIV)
You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
Cindy/Midland
Roxanne, Kentucky- “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (NIV)
Johnson City, TN
I Thessalonians 3:12 (NKJV)
And may the Lord make you
increase and abound in love
to one another and to all,
just as we do to you,
Brook, Santa Monica
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
Psalm 19.1-4a niv
Kelley, Willow Spring
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 13:1 NIV
Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble of heart and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 NIV
Susan, Nashville, IN
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
Laura, Kenmore, Wa
Psalm 19:14 NIV
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Lisa, Arlington, TN: The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to (daughter)ship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 NIV(2010)
Kylee, Fountain Hills, AZ Psalm 62:5 Find Rest, o my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will NOT be shaken.
Alyson – Tallahassee
Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) – Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Becky: Montgomery
Every good and perfect gift is from above.
James 1:17 NIV
Tiffany, Houston, TX – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…” Hebrews 12:1 NIV
Rebekah-Brentwood, TN
You show that your are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. II Corinthians 3:3
Robin,Spring,TX- Ephesians 3:20,21 (HCSB) Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think-according to the power that works in you-to him be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever, Amen!
Lynne, New Milford – Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually. 1 Chronicles 16:11
A Cord of Three Strands, Christy, Karen, Cheryl in Jay, OK
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV